Historic Hebron Day came about as an offshoot to Colonial Day, which has been hosted by town business Country Carpenters for a number of years. "We're utilizing some of the sites that exist here in town, and they're not all Colonial," said Mary Ann Foote, from the Hebron Historical Society. This year's event included five town sites: The Old Town Hall, the Old Town Pound, the Burrows Hill School House, the Gull School House, and the Civilian Aircraft Observation Post. Visitors were provided with a map of the sites, and at each location costumed tour guides were ready to provide information. The Historical Society plans to make this an annual event, and add more stops in the future, according to Mary Ellen Gonci, who was helping to lead tours of the Old Town Hall.

Logistical problems prevented Hope Valley Church from being included this time, but members hope to add it to the tour. St. Peters Church is another potential addition. "They are in the process of restoring their stained glass windows right now," said Gonci. "There are plenty of buildings in town we could open. This has been a fun process."

The Old Town Hall, said Gonci, was built in 1838 as a Methodist Meetinghouse. It was originally two stories, but was cut down to its current 1.5 floors in 1875. "In 1850 the congregation broke up," said Gonci. In 1859, the town of Hebron bought the building for $650. According to Gonci, at one point there was a town green in front of the building. But when townspeople couldn't come to an agreement regarding which side of the green Route 66 should run down, the state cut directly across the middle.

The Hebron Historical Society purchased the building in 1975. "Over the years, different leadership has had different ideas regarding what to do with the building," said Gonci. Currently, the Historical Society holds a number of events there annually. "We're currently working on turning it into a museum," said Gonci, noting that donated items are being installed in the building.

The Historical Society currently owns two historical buildings in town – the Burrows Hill School and the Old Town Hall. The Society is also responsible for maintaining the observation post. "So we can always use new members," said Gonci. On Oct. 16, the Society will be hosting a program focused on vampires. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the program starts at 7:30.

At the Civilian Aircraft Observation Post, members of Boy Scout Troop 28 held court during Historic Hebron Day. Alex filled members in regarding the history of the building. The post was part of a system of lookout posts erected during World War II, he explained. Volunteers would man the posts 24-7, watching for enemy aircraft. One of those volunteers in Hebron was Mary Hooker Porter, who manned the post with her husband. "I was so scared the whole time, I always hoped nothing would go over," said Porter. "The whole thing was frightening." At the time, the post was located on Robinson's Hill, said Porter, "so you could see for miles." Her job, along with other volunteers, was to identify aircraft by shape and other markers and try to determine in which direction they were traveling.

According to Alex, overhead aircraft would prompt volunteers to pick up a telephone located in the post. The phone would connect them to a Boston post, which would record the observations and take appropriate action.